In Jewish tradition, a synagogue is defined in three ways: beit t’filah, a house of worship; beit midrash, a house of study; and beit knesset, a house of assembly. Temple Beth Or facilitates finding meaningful connections with God, lifelong learning and a welcoming congregational home for members of diverse ages and backgrounds.

Beit T’filah – our House of Worship:

At Temple Beth Or worship is participatory and vibrant. We believe that prayer is not a “spectator sport” and encourage congregational participation in all areas of worship. We welcome young and old to lead services and read Torah. Be it in our formal artistic sanctuary to our woodsy outdoor chapel, our members learn early on that the bima is their home. Our worship experiences vary from formal Sabbath services, to healing services; from interactive youth experiences to meditative drumming circles, making prayer relevant for Jews of every age and every style.

Beit Midrash – our House of Study:

Learning is what Jews do. We strive to learn and to teach, to debate and to engage in the study of Jewish texts, history and heritage in an atmosphere of joy, intellectual honesty, inquiry and depth. From our popular verse by verse Torah study, to spirituality classes; from our Mind, Body, Spirit Adult Educational Series, to adult Hebrew classes for beginners, prayer book Hebrew, and Torah trope;; from parenting classes to interfaith support groups, Temple Beth Or seeks to instill the love of learning in every Jew of every age and at every level of expertise. Nowhere is it more true, “Two, Jews, three opinions.” At Temple Beth Or we value debate, political discourse and gleaning the truth from our sacred sources and the Jewish historical experience.

Beit Knesset – Our House of Assembly:

In our increasingly mobile society, Temple Beth Or prides itself on the warmth and friendliness of our leadership and our members. Like Abraham and Sarah, we open our tent wide to welcome the stranger in our midst. Often an untrained or un-affiliated Jew, a non-Jew seeking entry into our faith, or an interfaith family has felt alienated from the more established Jewish community. Temple Beth Or creates a warm, safe environment for anyone searching for an entry-point into Jewish life. Temple Beth Or is a family affair. If you are in Dayton without your extended family, we create opportunities to “adopt” family members and create significant and meaningful extended family relationships right here within our community!